Sliding-Cover Container for Selective Compartment Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging for comestible products, such as chewing gum and hard candies, fails to allow easy access and separation of different types of products, leading to difficulties in removing desired quantities while maintaining product integrity.
Innovation Solution
A container with a movable cover system that includes a first cover and a second cover, where the second cover moves relative to the first cover in different directions to expose separate openings for accessing distinct compartments within the container, utilizing guide structures and stoppers for controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single cover is used to access the container, then the structure is simple, but it cannot allow selective access to different compartments without mixing products
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into multiple segments (first cover and second cover) that can move independently. The first cover provides access to the first compartment while the second cover provides access to the second compartment, allowing selective access without mixing products. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling compartment-specific access while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The covers are designed to be movable rather than fixed, with the second cover being movable relative to the first cover. This dynamic design allows the covers to transition between different positions to access different compartments, providing versatility while keeping the structure simple through controlled movement rather than complex mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is made movable to access different openings, then selective access is enabled, but unintentional movement may occur
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure acts as an intermediary between the first cover and the second cover, guiding the movement of the second cover relative to the first cover. This guide structure ensures that the covers move in a controlled manner to access the intended openings while preventing unintentional movement, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and position stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple openings are provided for different compartments, then product separation is maintained, but the cover structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system is segmented into multiple covers corresponding to different compartments. Each cover can be independently positioned to access its respective opening, maintaining product separation. This segmentation approach preserves the simplicity of individual cover structures while achieving the complexity needed for multi-compartment access through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A container for holding a comestible includes a container body defining a container cavity and a first cover positionable on the container body. The first cover includes a first opening and a second opening in communication with the container cavity. A second cover is engagable with an upper surface of the first cover. The second cover is moveable relative to the first cover to expose the first opening in a first dispensing position and to expose the second opening in a second dispensing position.